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A U.S. Government Account
Broward/Dade Counties, Florida Homeless Voice Street Newspaper Vendors Attacked
May: Two Homeless Voice street newspaper vendors were shot at a total of four times each while on the job. As a result, one vendor received welts to his body. The other required surgery to remove the pellet from his body.
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No suspects have been named at this point. However, crimes continue as another vendor working in the same vicinity was shot in the chest with the same type of gun a few weeks later. Source: Sean Connie, President of the Homeless Voice and the South Florida Coalition for the Homeless. Report filed with Dade County Public Service Department
Holly Hill, Florida Homeless man killed for fun
May 31 : Five teenage boys have been charged in the death of a 53 -year-old homeless man through repeated beatings and allegedly jumping on a log placed over his ribs. Two of the teenagers, charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, said they killed the homeless man “for fun” because they “needed something to do”.
Christopher Scamahorm, 14, and Jeffery Spurgeon, 18, confessed to beating the victim, Michael Roberts, using their fists, tree branches, and a large log to pummel the man in addition to kicking him. The suspects returned a short time later and kicked the man and beat him with sticks, coming back a total of three times and beating the man each time.
Friends said Scamahorn later bragged about the beating and offered to show them Roberts’ body. Visitors to the site included Spurgeon’s cousins, aged 4 and 8. The victim weighed a little more that 100 pounds. Scamahorn was described as several inches taller and weighing in at over 200 pounds.
An autopsy showed Roberts died of blunt-force trauma to the head and body. He suffered a broken skull, ribs and badly injured legs. Defensive wounds were found on his hands.
A third teenager, Justin Stearns, 18, has also been arrested and is also charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Spurgeon and Scamahorn told deputies that Stearns hit Roberts in the face, threw a log on his head and chest and jumped on it. Two more suspects have also been arrested in the murder case. Warren Messner, 15, of Holly Hill is charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and Phi Huynh, 15, of Daytona Beach is charged with aggravated battery in the repeated beating of the victim. “They didn’t have to do what they did”, said Richard Roberts, brother to Michael, “They could have stopped, but they didn’t. They came back and they came back and they came back.” Barbara Burns, Michael’s older sister, also said “I just think parents need to teach tolerance of other people and to have a little respect for our fellow man. Somewhere along the line we have lost a whole generation.”
The boys told a friend that “it doesn’t matter, they’re just bums. Four of the teenagers pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. They face possible life sentences. A fifth youth faces charges of aggravated battery. Sources: ” Associated Press"
The Cooperative Fee ding Program is in desperate need of food for the com m unity foo d pantry. • The shelves are empty and we need to feed our community members that need just a little help. • Please get with your church, optimist clubs, schools, or social clubs and do a food drive so our little ones, seniors and individuals get some food in their bellies. • Please call 954-792-2EAT • www.FeedingBroward.org
Learn how to start your own food pantry so your own group can do what we do to help our poorest members of our community. Go to www.Training.cscBroward.org. Project name: The Cupboard Is Bare.
East Palatka, Florida Homeless enticed into “modern-day slavery”
June 11 : A farm labor contractor and his associates are accused of looking for homeless people, mostly African-American men, and putting them to work, especially seeking those men addicted to crack cocaine or other narcotics.
The men were allegedly lured with promises of work, room and board and taken to a camp in this poor area of northwest Florida where potatoes and cabbage are grown.
At the end of each day workers were offered crack cocaine, alcohol.
The cost of the crack was deducted from their pay checks. Source: Sun-Sentinel
Virginia Beach, VA Beach suspect charged in fatal stabbing of homeless man.
June 18: John Michael Johnson, 45, has been charged with the stabbing death of a homeless man.
Joseph Floyd Moore Jr., 70, was stabbed after an apparent confrontation, reported Brian Ricardo, a police spokesman. but was a regular at bars around the area.
Johnson was being held at the city jail on a charge of first-degree murder. Source: The Virginian Pilot
From left to right; Michael Stoops of the National Coalition for the Homeless, Sean Cononie of the Homeless Voice, and Lynne Brenes, Broward County Coordinator, for U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler.
St. Paul, Minnesota St. Paul homeless man fatally beaten
June 20: A homeless man found unconscious in an alley was beaten to death, said police spokesman Paul Schnell. Steven Allen Bisek, 49, was the victim of a vicious attack by young men who robbed and harassed vulnerable, drunk and homeless victims on St. Paul’s East Side. Bisek, who had no permanent address, was found June 20, unconscious and suffering a head injury. An autopsy determined the death to be a homicide by blunt force trauma.
On June 20, Police were notified about a robbery-in-progress and immediately arrested two of five suspects. Investigators determined a link between the suspects and Bisek’s homicide and arrested two others. Of the four people in custody, two are murder suspects: a teenage boy (whose identity was not released because he is a juvenile) and Deontaye J. Russel, 18, of St. Paul, who is being held in the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of homicide and robbery.
“There was absolutely enough probable cause to connect them and their action to his death,” said Schnell.
Investigators linked this case to a series of robberies committed against vulnerable adults on the East Side. “We were talking about a dozen or so, perhaps more because of the population we’re talking about it’s quite likely that this has gone unreported,” said Schnell. Sources: Star Tribune
Detroit, Michigan State Troopers assault homeless man
June 24: Two state troopers, Gabriel Seibt, 29, and Todd Parsons, 30, have been charged with misconduct in office, a five-year felony, for assaulting Roosevelt Dean Jr., 50, a homeless man, with chemical spray. Seibt is also charged with felonious assault.
Prosecutors say that the troopers and Dean were involved in a verbal dispute that led to the assault.
The troopers took Dean to an alley, where Seibt sprayed him in the face with the chemical spray.
They then left Dean by the side of the road while failing to follow several department policies, including one that requires reporting the use of chemical spray. Dean required medical attention and filed a complaint the following day.
The troopers denied a confrontation with Dean, but Law Enforcement Information Records showed that they had run a check on Dean earlier in the evening. The State Police placed the two troopers on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of the case.
“The Michigan State Police is committed to protecting the dignity and rights of all persons,” said Col. Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police. Source: The Detroit News
Sacramento, California BB gun attacks hit the needy
June 25: At least four homeless people received minor injuries from a series of attacks with a BB gun in the Sacramento area.
One victim required stitches. Another homeless woman said someone “stomped on her face with his foot.”
These assaults were not the first against homeless people. The Citizens’ Crime Alert Reward Program had previously put out a flier warning: “Be on the lookout in the Downtown & North Sacramento areas for subjects who have been targeting the homeless with pellet or BB guns… These subjects drive up to their victims and ask for directions. The subjects will then shoot the victim(s) at close range,” read the bulletin. There was no apparent motive in the attacks.
The police stopped a silver Dodge Durango that matched descriptions of the attackers’ vehicle, Lazark said. Police confiscated a BB gun from the males inside; however, police ultimately let them go, claiming that no one could positively identify them.
Officials at the Loaves & Fishes organization were infuriated that the suspects were let go.
“Homeless people are often detained for much less,” said Tim Brown, executive director. “They know the identity of these folks,” he said. “My question is, what are they going to do about it?”
Two of the individuals who were attacked said they would be able to identify their attackers. Source: Sacramento Bee
Cheyenne, Wyoming Homeless beat in park
July 6: Several incidents of “homeless bashing” have occurred in the Martin Luther King Junior Park and under a nearby bridge. People have been badly beaten with a club-like weapon. An outreach worker for Crossroads Clinic, a health care for the homeless facility, made the discoveries and alerted police to the situation.
The “bashers” appear to be teens or in their early twenties. The police are keeping an eye out for this, but so far no arrests have been made. Police presence curbed incidents initially, but they have recently resumed. Source: Virginia Sellner, Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless
Holiday, Florida Four men sought in connection with beating of transient.
July: Four men beat a man with a baseball bat and threw his bicycle into a nearby pond, breaking his arm among other injuries.
The man was scolding children for throwing rocks at him when the four men approached him and began to attack him. Source: Tampa Tribune
AK 3 separate incidents in 1 city (Fairbanks) resulting in 3 non-lethal acts. AZ 1 incident in 1 city (Tucson) resulting in 1 death. CA 14 separate incidents in 5 cities (Berkeley, Fairfield, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco) resulting in 1 death and 15 non-lethal acts. FL 9 separate incidents in 7 cities (Broward County, Dade County, Daytona Beach, East Palatka, Holly Hill, Holiday, Orlando) resulting in 1 death and 31 non-lethal acts. GA 1 incident in 1 city (Stockbridge) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. IL 1 incident in 1 city (Springfield) resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. IN 1 incident in 1 city (Indianapolis) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. IA 1 incident in 1 city (Davenport) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. ME 1 incident in 1 city (Portland) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. MA 1 incident in 1 city (Boston) resulting in 1 death. MI 3 separate incidents in 2 cities (Battle Creek, Detroit) resulting in 2 deaths and 1non-lethal act. MN 2 incidents in 2 cities (Duluth, St. Paul) resulting in 2 deaths. MS 1 incident in 1 city (Pascagoula) resulting in 6 non-lethal acts. MO 1 incident in 1 city (Kansas City) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. NJ 1 incident in 1 city (Camden) resulting in 1 death. NY 3 separate incidents in 3 cities (New York City, Roosevelt, Staten Island) resulting in 2 deaths and 1 non-lethal act. OH 4 separate incidents in 2 cities (Cincinnati, Cleveland) resulting in 4 non-lethal acts. OR 1 incident in 1 city (Cave Junction) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. PR 1 incident in 1 city (San Juan) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. SC 1 incident in 1 city (Myrtle Beach) resulting in 1 non-lethal act. TX 1 incident in 1 city (San Antonio) resulting in 1 death. VA 1 incident in 1 city (Virginia Beach) resulting in 1 death. WY 2 separate incidents in 1 city (Cheyenne) resulting in 2 non-lethal acts.
Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Number of Victims
48
42
12 21 35
17 21 15 61 80
73
9 25
13
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Deaths Non-lethal
Davenport, Iowa Man arrested in assault on homeless man
July 12: A Davenport man severely injured a homeless man by punching him, yelled a racial slur and punched another man, police said.
Ryan Eckstein, 19, was arrested on two counts of willful injury with serious injury and one count of assault with intent of a hate crime for the incidents. Witnesses identified Eckstein as the man who caused life-threatening head injuries to a 50-year-old homeless man. Source: Quad City Times
July 16: Three gang members who came up empty-handed when they beat a homeless man unconscious during a robbery in Roosevelt earlier this week have been arrested and charged with killing the man, reported Nassau police.
Jose Benitez, 36, died three days after the attack without regaining consciousness.
“I don’t think they even got anything,” Homicide Sgt. Richard Laursen said. Benitez just “looked like … an easy target.”
The teenagers, members of the “Crips” street gang, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Benitez had no gang ties.
Benitez had been clubbed several times in the back of the head with a blunt instrument. Police described Benitez only as a homeless man from Roosevelt. Police released few details about the investigation, saying only that the motive was robbery. Source: Newsday
Cincinnati, Ohio Homeless people getting targeted in park
July: Recently there have been complaints that teenagers who are hanging out in Washington Park are throwing glass beer bottles, targeting the homeless individuals who are in the park. This is occurring on a daily basis, especially now that it is nicer outside and school is almost out.
Source: Rachel Lawson, Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless; direct communication.
Battle Creek, Michigan Second suspect arrested in homeless man’s death
August 6: A second suspect has been arrested for the beating death of a homeless man. A 45-yearold Battle Creek resident is being held at the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, and may be charged with assault with intent to murder. The body of 46-year-old Anthony Dewayne Headen was found near the railroad tracks. One suspect was already in custody. Source: WWMT-TV
August 16: Two 19-year-old men, allegedly inspired by the “Bumfights” videos, roamed the streets of Downtown Los Angeles hitting sleeping homeless people with aluminum baseball bats, leaving an elderly man in critical condition with severe head wounds, police said.
The suspects, William Orantes and Justin Brumfield, later told officers they had just watched a controversial DVD in which homeless people are videotaped fighting each other and wanted to do some “bum bashing” of their own. Sources: LA Times and The Daily Breeze
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An elevator door opens revealing the entrance to a dimly lit hallway. The smell of cleaning supplies grips your nose as your eyes begin to focus. A wall adorned with auditorium seats are filled with unique individuals. One lay with a hand supporting his face, which is shielded by his long un-brushed hair. Another taking a nap, arms tightly folded as if trying to protect himself from some outside force. Tears begin to well up within me as I ponder each of their struggles, wanting to know more about their plights. But today, someone else is to have a voice; room 216. A pleasant aroma is coupled with carefully placed decorations: neatly hung curtain, shaggy red carpet, a tan sofa and colorful pictures. A table sits in the middle of the room supporting a vase of flowers. An entertainment system shelving religious artifacts and there he is, sixty-six year old Melvin Gilbert peeking through a twelve inch separation in a trimmed shower curtain adorning the perimeter of his bed “I don’t have to be here, I choose to be,” Melvin says as he rests his smooth head against his arm. Melvin didn’t start life off expecting to be homeless. Born on a cotton field, Christmas Day, Melvin began life picking cotton in the country of Arkansas. “I like the country, but I just didn’t like picking that cotton,” Melvin explains. “I just wasn’t good at it.” From the cotton fields Melvin found himself serving in the Marines for twenty-three years. And when he felt as though his service to America was done Melvin found himself in the warm environment of Florida. No clothes, no money, no where to go and looking down the barrel of homelessness. “I had never been homeless before,” Melvin begins. “I couldn’t stand to walk the streets all night. Some people can and it doesn’t bother them. I can’t do benches.” Crack had become Melvin’s sanctuary. He could recall days of buying it with no intent of actually using. “I bought it and didn’t even want it, but I couldn’t sleep or eat until it was gone,” Melvin explains. This led Melvin to enter the ninety-day program at Safe Haven. And upon completion Melvin immediately wanted to be readmitted. But a counselor convinced him that he would have to trust himself. “I wanted it so bad that I could taste it,” Melvin began. “But when I stopped I stopped everything.” Melvin now stays at the homeless shelter as a constant reminder of the direction his life has turned; and his relationship with all the members of the shelter. “I really don’t need em, but then again I do need em,” Melvin states. “I used to do drugs and being here reminds me what it was like to do drugs and what shape I could end up in if I go back to drugs.” Melvin speaks of the days when he recalled wearing socks for so long they stuck to his feet. Not wanting to go out because of his shaggy appearance. But now he admits he readily invites other in to enjoy in his
Melvin Gilbert’s gentle eyes, calming spirit and desire to aid others is something that is truly unforgettable.
experiences and the work he has put in his room. “I like it homey,” Melvin starts. “I don’t like being alone, I like people.” Melvin also speaks of how he could easily find an apartment and move out with his retirement check from the Marines. But he just doesn’t want to lose sight of himself. “I like who I am now,” He says. “I go where I can look everyone in the eye. I am not above anyone.” A calm moves over Melvin as he speaks about his late friend Pat. They became good friends. Thrift store shopped together and talked; until she passed away of cancer. “I miss Pat,” Melvin states. “I haven’t been back to the thrift store since, but I will go back someday.” In the mean time Melvin tries his best to help those around him. He gives some a dollar for a soda. He talks to others and counsels them on things he feels he can help them with. And he does it all because he feels it’s the right thing to do. “I give them a dollar,”
Melvin starts. “They won’t pay me back, but hopefully God will bless me.” To Melvin this has become a place full of brothers and sisters. Some he can talk to, others he just sits and observes hoping for the best. And in all his endeavors he makes it clear that he doesn’t like the publicity, he just wants to do what is right; not impress others. Melvin begins to rise, making his way back into the world. To take pleasure in simple matters of vacuuming his room, cleaning the toilet and taking a ride on his bike. As the interview comes to an end, Melvin gently and innocently extends his hand. And with the whisper of a child he proclaims: “Just remember my name.” Those gentle eyes, calming spirit and desire to aid others is something that is truly unforgettable. -Jeremy Swift Volunteer Reporter jswif001@fiu.edu
Fairfield, California Homeless father beaten
August 18: A homeless man was beaten to unconsciousness and was found in a pool of blood in a church parking lot. Police discovered the victim lying unconscious next to the car with blood pooled around him. He was beaten, stomped on and appeared to have suffered severe head trauma. The three suspects Stephen Armstrong, 18, Tyler Giugni, 19, and Corey Reitmeier, 17, have plead innocent to attempted murder, mayhem and assault charges.
The victim of this savage attack was a homeless father who was living out of his car at the Parkway Community Church on Heath Drive, was reported in good condition last week. Sources: Daily Republic
Boston, Massachusetts
Two South Boston teens arrested in beating death of homeless man
August 26: Police have arrested two South Boston youth, aged 15 and 17, in the beating death of a homeless man.
Prosecutors alleged that Ryan Leonard and Thomas Grealish beat Mario Acosta Chavez with a baseball bat and kicked him. Chavez, 40, died a few days later at Boston Medical Center. Sources: Boston Herald
Fairbanks, Alaska Street people continue to be target of attacks
September 19: Fairbanks police are again warning street people to be extra wary after receiving reports Saturday of two more attacks by groups of violent teenagers, one day after three suspects in another attack were arrested.
The youths are reportedly on bicycles, sometimes armed with baseball bats. They prey on people who are alone, vulnerable and sometimes intoxicated, according to police. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea for (street people) to be on heightened alert still.” Source: Anchorage Daily News
The Homeless Voice is looking for churches to volunteer for feeding the homeless. Please Call Mark at 954-410-6275
Indianapolis, Indiana Homeless man burned at crowd’s urging
September 27: A homeless man on the Northeast side was critically burned when a man poured lighter fluid on him and set him on fire. Anthony W. Eldridge, 22, was trying to sell the lighter fluid on the street when he encountered a crowd of about 20 people in the 4000 block of Brentwood Avenue.
“The crowd said ‘light him up,’” said Capt. Phil Burton, and a man used a cigarette lighter to set the fluid on fire.
Eldridge was sent to Wishard Memorial Hospital with third-degree burns over 50 percent of his body. He was listed in critical condition. Source: The IndyStar
Kansas City, Missouri Man allegedly raped homeless woman
September 27: A man invited a homeless woman who was seven months pregnant to his home for shelter and then raped her, Jackson County prosecutors alleged. Prosecutors charged Randy W. Cooper, 52, of Kansas City, with forcible rape and felonious restraint.
Court records gave this account: The 33-year-old woman told police she was sitting at a bus stop at about 2 a.m. when a man approached and introduced himself. The man said he was concerned that she was out at night, in the cold, in her condition. The woman told the man she had nowhere to go because she was homeless.
The man invited her to his home, saying she could have a room of her own. The suspect instead took the woman to an abandoned house.
Once inside, the man insisted on sleeping next to the woman even though she objected. The woman then tried to leave, but the man stopped her and demanded she have sex with him. When she tried to leave again, the man grabbed her neck, causing her to gasp for air, and raped her. After the attack, the woman tried to leave, but the man pulled a phone cord out of the wall and the woman said she feared he was going to strangle her. The next morning, when the man went into another room, the woman escaped. She ran to 31st and Prospect, where she called the police. Police took the woman to a shelter. Source: The Kansas City Star
Orlando, Florida Homeless man badly beaten
September 30: Two Orlando police officers were taken off the street after a homeless man they were trying to arrest was seriously beaten. The homeless man was being arrested for trespassing at a local church. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating how the homeless man ended up in the hospital with lifethreatening injuries.
Jeffrey Goff, 44, has been at the Orlando Regional Medical Center for almost two weeks after being badly beaten during his arrest.
Goff was trespassing at the Rosemont Baptist Church in Orange County. “Goff was what we refer to as passive resistance,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman Wayne Ivey said.
“There was no kicking, no punching, no biting or anything of that nature.” A deputy was called, but Goff would not let go of the Bible he was holding to surrender a fingerprint and the deputy could not handcuff him. “There was some kind of struggle and the Orlando Police Department (OPD) was called for back-up,” said spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones.
The Sheriff’s report says once OPD officers Ed Michael and Randal Pennington showed up at the church, one of them, “grabbed a hold of Goff and threw Goff against the ground.” The same officer shot Goff with a taser gun and then struck him with a baton and punched him. The report says, “Officer Michael struck the defendant several times in the facial area with his fist.”
Goff was admitted to a hospital in serious condition with facial fractures as well as trauma to the brain. Records show that in the six years Officer Michael has worked for the Orlando Police Department, he has been the focus of seven internal affairs investigations.
Officer Michael was charged with aggravated battery. “It is difficult and it is disappointing, but we also know that individual officers do have to be accountable for their actions,” Orlando Police Sgt. Barbara Jones said. Sources: WFTV News
October: A 55-year-old individual who has requested to have his name withheld reported that he was attacked while sleeping on a sidewalk just off of Public Square. He was injured when the suspect threw a brick at him and then drove off in his car. He needed to be hospitalized, and has stopped sleeping outside in a visible location. He now sleeps in groups for security. Source: Brian Davis, Northeast Coalition for the Homeless.
Staten Island, New York Teens Charged in Arson Death of Homeless Man
October 15: Two teens are under arrest after police say they set a fire that killed a homeless man on Staten Island earlier this week.
The fire destroyed an empty store on New Dorp Lane in Grant City, killing 65-year-old William Lowther.
Seventeen-year-old Edna Marino was arraigned on murder and arson charges Saturday and is being held without bail. Police say the 14-year-old also arrested will be tried in family court because he is a minor.
They say the teens intentionally set the fire. Police also told the Daily News the teens knew the man was inside at the time. Source: NY1 News
Sacramento, California Homeless man beaten
October 25: The Sacramento Police Department is investigating the beating of a homeless man. The suspects accosted the man with a stick and shot him with a pellet gun. The suspects were described as two teenage males dressed like ninjas. Source: Sacramento Crime Alert. Sacramento Police Department.
San Juan, Puerto Rico Gas station attendant beats homeless man with a bat
October 27: Around mid-morning, Senator Maria de Lourdes Santiago arrived at the Esso gas station in Puerta de Tierra. While parking, she observed a homeless man asking for money. As she pumped gas the Senator saw a young gas station employee with a bat. The employee grabbed the homeless man by his arm; he in turn threw a refreshment at the employee. The employee then proceeded to hit the homeless man in the head with his bat. People witnessing the event took action to control the employee. It was the Senator Santiago’s impression that if the other citizens had not reacted to the employee’s actions, he would have kept hitting the homeless man with the bat. Source: Puerto Rico Senator Maria de Lourdes Santiago.
South Florida is a great place to live in. Because of its location, it is notorious for its beaches, climate, economy and diversity. These qualities attract a great variety of people to visit, move to or stay living in this great melting pot. In all reality, South Florida residents share the same problems and difficulties as in any other location. Some of these are divorce, job loss, drug and alcohol abuse and dependency, loss of a loved one and problems within the family structure, just to name a few. All these problems and changes require some type of restructure to our normal every day life.
Every day we are faced with new challenges and experiences. As human beings, we are constantly making decisions that can influence and alter our life and the life of those around us. It is fortunate when these decisions yield positive results and bring us joy. However, sometimes our choices may seem limited or non existent thus creating a state of confusion, uncertainty and ambivalence.
Often times, individuals going through difficulties feel alone and misunderstood. There are those who are blessed with the support of others. However, family members and friends can also be affected by the suffering of a loved one. Unfortunately, there are many people who are truly alone and in need of a helping hand. Some difficulties may increase when ignored and others when a wrong approach is taken.
The purpose of this column is to provide our readers with a chance to share their case with others, ask questions and get advice from a Mental Health Professional who will answer their e-mails or letters and address their concerns. Often, people are surprised to see how many others share difficulties that are similar to their own. The column welcomes questions from all readers and invites you to e-mail your letters to: Ena1120@aol.com
Battle Creek, MI 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Berkeley, CA 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Boston, MA 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Broward County, FL 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Camden, NJ 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Cave Junction, OR 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Cheyenne, WY 2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. Cincinnati, OH 2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. Cleveland, OH 2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. Dade County, FL 1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. Davenport, IA 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Daytona Beach, FL 1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. Detroit, MI 2 separate incidents resulting in 1 death and 1 non-lethal act. Duluth, MN 1 incident resulting in 1 death. East Palatka, FL 1 incident resulting in 24 non-lethal acts. Fairbanks, AK 3 separate incidents resulting in 3 non-lethal acts. Fairfield, CA 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Holiday, FL 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Holly Hill, FL 3 related incidents resulting in 1 death. Indianapolis, IN 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Kansas City, MO 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Los Angeles, CA 2 separate incidents resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. Myrtle Beach, SC 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. New York, NY 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Orlando, FL 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Pascagoula, MS 1 incident resulting in 6 non-lethal acts. Portland, ME 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Roosevelt, NY 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Sacramento, CA 5 separate incidents resulting in 5 non-lethal acts. San Antonio, TX 1 incident resulting in 1 death. San Francisco, CA 5 separate incidents resulting in 7 non-lethal acts. San Juan, PR. 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. Springfield, IL 1 incident resulting in 2 non-lethal acts. Staten Island, NY 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Stockbridge, GA 1 incident resulting in 1 non-lethal act. St. Paul, MN 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Tucson, AZ 1 incident resulting in 1 death. Virginia Beach, VA 1 incident resulting in 1 death
Springfield, Illinois Homeless Men Attacked While Walking
November 1 : Two homeless men were attacked on the street when they encountered two men driving a blue pickup truck. The men were pelted with eggs before their assailants emerged from the vehicle and attacking them. One of the men was repeatedly kicked and punched and knocked unconscious, suffering abrasions all over his body. Sources: Springfield State Journal-Register
San Antonio, Texas Homeless Man Left for Dead
November 20: The body of David Doane, 49, has been identified after he was beaten up outside on St. Mary’s Street on November 20th. Doane had been expelled from a store nearby earlier that night for intoxication. The manager reported that soon after, that he saw two men beat Doane up, then drive off. No arrests have been made. Sources: KABB-TX, Fox News at 9
Cleveland, Ohio
Homeless man attacked while sleeping in park December 29: On the night of December 29, 2005, Don, a 65-yearold African American, was sleeping in the Public Square. He was attacked by two white individuals, between the ages of 20-30, who were nicely dressed and in a Toyota sedan. Don was inside a sleeping bag at 4 a.m. when the attacked occurred and could not defend himself with the exception of covering his face. The two men were using sticks and kicking him. One of the sticks actually broke after repeated hits. A BFI sanitation worker broke up the attack and called an ambulance. The attackers had broken his jaw, and he had multiple bruises all over his body. Additionally, he received five stitches on his face. The BFI employee was the only witness. Don has not returned to Public Square since then. He now intends to only sleep with larger groups so he will not be visible or alone. He did manage to give a report to the police while in the hospital. Source: Brian Davis, Northeast Coalition for the Homeless.
San Francisco, California San Francisco suspends officer over video
December 8: An officer was suspended and others face discipline after filming videos containing sexist, racist and homophobic material for an office holiday party, officials said.
About 20 officers participated in creating or performing in the videos, Mayor Gavin Newson and Police Chief Heather Fong said.
City officials said the videos, created as a spoof about life on the force, included a skit of a white police officer in a patrol car running over a black homeless woman.
“It is shameful, it is offensive, it is sexist, it is homophobic and it is racist,” said Newsom. “We’re going to make sure that it ends, it ends immediately.”
Please Note: Even though this was not a hate crime, it does set an example too teens who may be too young to realize that this type of behavior by people who are to enforce the law is allowable. Should actual news agencies allow this type of tape to be shown to the public? If the teens do not understand the events would it give them the feeling that hurting a homeless person is ok? Yes the public has the right to know, but what can we do to make it more understandable when it hits the news wire? Source: AOL News
Stockbridge, Georgia
Homeless man paid $5 to drink toxic cleaner by Waffle House employee
December 14: A homeless man’s health is improving after he was paid $5 to drink an industrial strength cleaner.
Rex Leo, 50, drank the toxic liquid after being offered $5 by Quinton Wilson, 19, a cook at the Waffle House in Stockbridge. The corrosive cleaner damaged Rex’s mouth and digestive system and caused internal bleeding. He was recently removed from a ventilator and is now breathing on his own in stable condition.
Wilson was initially charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct, but authorities upgraded the charge to aggravated battery. Wilson was set free on a $550 misdemeanor bond; however, he is expected to be arrested on the new charge, jail officials said.
Wilson, along with a waitress who knew of the proposition, were both promptly fired by Waffle House. Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
HELP PAY OFF OUR MORTGAGE We need just
33,789 people to send in a check for $20.00, Or 13,516 people to send in a check for $50.00, Or 6,758 people to send in a check for $100.00, Or 676 people to send in a check for $1,000, Or Just one wonderful person or business to send a check for the entire $675,777.00 Remember the donation is tax deductible!! Please send your checks to: The COSAC Building Fund P.O. Box 292-577 Davie, Florida 33329 We do thank you
As you can see we are almost there. Please reach out to your friends this month and every month and try to network and let us all reach a goal of getting our 33,789 friends to each send in a check for $20.00. I am so tired, very tired and it becomes harder and harder each day. As I try to expand out to other projects there is only one of me and trying to always fit the monthly budget of about $100,000.00 and still try to get the mortgage paid off which will then make our monthly budget go down to about $90,000.00 a month it makes my life even more difficult. I have been in the hospital September, November, December and January and I am way behind on eve- rything. This is your place, please come by and see what you have created it belongs to the community. It has now been ten years and I need a well deserved rest. We all are so very much tired just not me and we need you even more than before.
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